Richard Orr’s primary objective for the last year has been to restore Miami (Okla.) Country Club to its former glory as one of the district’s most challenging and entertaining golf courses.
It has been a difficult process. The club had fallen into disrepair over the years. The greens were virtually unputtable. Maintenance had been inconsistent. The clubhouse needed a makeover.
Not so today, thanks to Orr’s determination.
“The physical improvements are about 98 percent done,” said the former California businessman, who purchased the club last summer after selling his company and moving back to Independence, Kan.
“We’ve reworked all the greens and all the sand traps, got the swimming pool operational again, put in a new pumping system for the irrigation system, cleaned up the clubhouse with new carpets and new tile. ... Basically it is a matter of trying to improve our mowing a little and do a better job of maintenance.”
The greens and traps are the most noticeable improvements, at least for golfers.
“The greens were the worst I had ever played and the sand traps were little ponds every time it rained,” he said.
In one of his first acts as owner, Orr rehired Dwight Johnson as superintendent and developed a restoration plan.
The greens today are smooth. And, with one small exception, the crabgrass that had taken over most of the putting surfaces a year ago is gone.
Probably the next biggest project in the renovation has involved the sand traps. Because they lacked a drainage system, water would remain standing in them for weeks. Orr had them excavated and new drainage installed. He then used more than 600 tons of sand to get them back in shape.
“Because some of the traps were low, we had no place where they could drain,” Orr said. “Several of the traps had no natural spot to drain. For instance, we had to build up the trap on No. 1 with sand up to 2 1/2 feet thick. It was a challenge.”
Nature gave Orr a backhanded swipe in mid-December when freezing rain snapped limbs and brought down trees. They posed a safety issue. He immediately got his crews working on cleaning up the limbs and removing the trees.
While Orr is pleased with the way the course has come around, he is concerned that membership hasn’t risen as rapidly as he expected. It is up a little over 30 percent and outside play is rising as word spreads of what Orr has accomplished.
Miami Country Club began with nine holes in 1921 and a second nine was added in 1986 after land was donated by a farm family.
“My original timetable was to do all the major projects in two years,” said Orr. “I decided to try to do it in a year. I’m satisfied with the projects I had in mind. What remains is of a maintenance nature. Probably the biggest question is whether there is enough interest in the community to sustain this course.”
If there isn’t, it won’t be for lack of effort on the part of Orr to give golfers a quality place to play.
Putting tip
Billy Casper ranks among the greatest putters ever. So how did he develop his great feel on the lightning-fast greens of the pro tour?
He suggested that golfers practice their putting at dusk when the dim light makes it difficult to see the hole. That way golfers develop feel.
Address correspondence to Clair Goodwin at sports@joplinglobe.com.
Sports
Miami Country Club restored
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